Woman accused of attacking new mom carried her own child, tests show

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ST. LOUIS — A woman accused of slashing a new mother’s throat and kidnapping her baby in rural Missouri was pregnant recently, confirming part of her story to police, authorities said Friday.

Shannon Torrez told police she had delivered a stillborn child on Sept. 15, the same day the mother was attacked and her then-7-day-old infant snatch from her home, investigators said.

Authorities had doubts that Torrez could deliver a child and overpower 21-year-old Stephenie Ochsenbine in the same day.

But a medical examination revealed that Torrez, 36, had “indications of a recent pregnancy,” Franklin County prosecuting attorney Robert Parks said in a statement. No remains of Torrez’s fetus have been found.

Investigators allege that Torrez tried to pass Abigale Lynn Woods off as her own for five days before her sister-in-law became suspicious. The child was returned unharmed to her family.

Parks said Friday a marked grave at Torrez’s home near the town of Lonedell was for a fetus that apparently died in 2000. St. Louis County Medical Examiner Mary Case performed tests confirming the fetus died from natural causes, he said.

Torrez remains jailed on $1 million bond after pleading not guilty to charges of kidnapping, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action. Her attorney, Daniel Briegel, did not answer messages left at his office Friday evening, and has an unlisted home phone number.